The seminar with Heather Zempel about Life groups was awesome! Several of our life Group leaders went to hear her. it was worth the time. Although it was for leading a Life Group her words challenged me another area of our church- our goals.
She stated that most of us have wishes and not goals. Wanting to lose 25 pounds is a wish- exercising 30 minutes a day for three months is a goal.
That made me realize the goal we have for our church (300 in attendance, 20 life groups, abuilding to be in) are wishes- good wishes, great wishes- but not goals. We need to change our wishes into goals. That's something I'm working on right now.
Then after listiening to her church situation it got me thinking about ours. Her church is in Washington DC and they meet in five movie theatres across the region with a bout 1500 in attendance. Isn't that amazing! here is this thriving church and they don't even have a church building. THey have no plans to build either. hmmm...
THat got me to thinking... church people generally want a church building.. the person who doesn't go to church could care less. And while I am tired of having a church in a box, not having a place to practice, etc, or youth to meet, etc.. I had to ask the question. Does Suffolk need another church building.
Our goal is to rech people and not build a building. i think of th opportunity we could have in Holland to reach that community. i thought of the Harborview movie theater and how we could reach northern Suffolk. How wold we do that...
What if we, instead of having a central building with 300 people, we had 3 locations with 100 people each? What about a place in Windsor or North Carloina. A lot of people like a small church. Why couldn't we be a church of little churches? We could get together for large experiences 3-4 times a year.
This is something I'm really praying about. I can't help but wonder is the reason we are not finding a place is because we are not looking at the opportunity right there in front of us. i have to rememebr God is more interested in reaching people than he is in a building. After all, there are all kinds of little venues in Suffolk to meet in all over the place. That gets me to thinking...
What resources would that take?
What administratively would this require?
money?
How would we start it?
Is this the route God wants us to go?
Hard words for me... and queations, but I can't help but ask.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
I'm Back
I'm back! And I'm sorry I left. I felt I wasn't being a good blogger so I hung it up for awhile, so i am up for another spin.
I have a couple of thoughts for you tonight. One is Saturday I went to a Small group Leders Seminar and the speaker said something that really hit me. She said when it came to goals is most people don't set goals, they just have wishes. Saying my goal is to lose 20 pounds this year is not a goal, it a wish. Saying I will run on a treadmill 30 minutes a day for three months is a goal.
That got me to thinking about our church goals. They are not goals. They are wishes. We said we would be at 300 by this month. That is a wish. What is a real goal? We need SMART goals. I am going to praying and discerning this issue. I think it's important for me as a minister of the church. I think goals are important. A ship without a plan is lost at sea.
The other thought I had is today was awesome. I was really hoping God would move and boy did he show up. I'm excited to see what God will do next week.
Trust in God!
Kirk
I have a couple of thoughts for you tonight. One is Saturday I went to a Small group Leders Seminar and the speaker said something that really hit me. She said when it came to goals is most people don't set goals, they just have wishes. Saying my goal is to lose 20 pounds this year is not a goal, it a wish. Saying I will run on a treadmill 30 minutes a day for three months is a goal.
That got me to thinking about our church goals. They are not goals. They are wishes. We said we would be at 300 by this month. That is a wish. What is a real goal? We need SMART goals. I am going to praying and discerning this issue. I think it's important for me as a minister of the church. I think goals are important. A ship without a plan is lost at sea.
The other thought I had is today was awesome. I was really hoping God would move and boy did he show up. I'm excited to see what God will do next week.
Trust in God!
Kirk
Friday, January 9, 2009
Why talk about giving...
This week I am doing a first. I am doing an entire sermon series around giving. I've haven't done tis in my preaching career and I'm doing it in the middle of this economic crisis. But I really led by God to go through with this and so I shall. Why talk about money in the church?
Well the obvious reason is the church needs to pay the bills. Duh? But the church does not exist to sustain itself. It exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ. And to that end money gives the church ability to function towards it's purpose. We should never lose focus of that.
And thn secondly, it really is a discipleship issue. Where your money foes so ogoes your attention. God wants your heart so he has to get the money under control so it will not control your heart. (As often it does.)
That's a big reason. So I am praying that the next few weeks will be a time of incredible spiritual growth in the church as we learn how to let go of our money and let in God.
Kirk
Well the obvious reason is the church needs to pay the bills. Duh? But the church does not exist to sustain itself. It exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ. And to that end money gives the church ability to function towards it's purpose. We should never lose focus of that.
And thn secondly, it really is a discipleship issue. Where your money foes so ogoes your attention. God wants your heart so he has to get the money under control so it will not control your heart. (As often it does.)
That's a big reason. So I am praying that the next few weeks will be a time of incredible spiritual growth in the church as we learn how to let go of our money and let in God.
Kirk
Friday, January 2, 2009
The New Year!
The New Year.... holds so many possibilities for our church! Just look at the goals we have laid out for ourselves. 150 in Attendance by March and 300 by September. I must confess i feel the pressure to "produce the numbers." It comes witht he territory of being the minister of the church. Plus, I am very goal oriented person and I face the danger of feeling like a failure if we don't reach those numbers and the other goals.
I shouldn't, but I know the temptation is there. How can I, and more importnatly, the churchh avoid this temptation. I have a few suggestions. I just hope I can follow my own advice.
First, I need to pray, and pray even more. I must lean on God like I have never before done. These goals will not be accomplished by him. For this purpose I have decided to schedule prayer retreats each month. I need to be with God for power, wisdom, and confidence. For my confidence will not come from me, but from God! I need to be like John in the Bible.
Secondly, I need to do my part. That means I need to work hard, and to work smart. I need to place my energies into what will bring about the results God wants. I am part f god's plan to bring heaven to earth.
Thirdly, I must let God do his part. I can't do the miracles. God is in the miracle business. I must also be open to when God interupts what I am doing too! Jesus makes the food. i just pass it out.
Fourthly, the goals are not about reaching them as much as the journey of getting there. Yes, we might have to revise them over time, but the vision will remain the same. 10,000 disciples. We are now in the process of thinking ow to reach 300 people. For example, how are we going to have 30 small groups? Right now we don't have enough chairs to seat 300 people. How will we serve communion? Things will change! The process of thinking this way helps our church keep moving forward!
Lastly, I ask you to pray for me and the leaders of our church. We need it! i know the leaders and I are praying for you too. We are in this together.
Looking forward to an incredible year!
Kirk
I shouldn't, but I know the temptation is there. How can I, and more importnatly, the churchh avoid this temptation. I have a few suggestions. I just hope I can follow my own advice.
First, I need to pray, and pray even more. I must lean on God like I have never before done. These goals will not be accomplished by him. For this purpose I have decided to schedule prayer retreats each month. I need to be with God for power, wisdom, and confidence. For my confidence will not come from me, but from God! I need to be like John in the Bible.
Secondly, I need to do my part. That means I need to work hard, and to work smart. I need to place my energies into what will bring about the results God wants. I am part f god's plan to bring heaven to earth.
Thirdly, I must let God do his part. I can't do the miracles. God is in the miracle business. I must also be open to when God interupts what I am doing too! Jesus makes the food. i just pass it out.
Fourthly, the goals are not about reaching them as much as the journey of getting there. Yes, we might have to revise them over time, but the vision will remain the same. 10,000 disciples. We are now in the process of thinking ow to reach 300 people. For example, how are we going to have 30 small groups? Right now we don't have enough chairs to seat 300 people. How will we serve communion? Things will change! The process of thinking this way helps our church keep moving forward!
Lastly, I ask you to pray for me and the leaders of our church. We need it! i know the leaders and I are praying for you too. We are in this together.
Looking forward to an incredible year!
Kirk
Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday Update, 12/12/08
Good morning y'all. Here are my thoughts on church this week.
1. Sunday was awesome. We had the five baptisms and that was a great way to cap the day! The worship itself was awesome too. the prayer station sat the end were well done and it was a great way to cap off the series on prayer. Cool!
2. I am very thankful for Christy. She put in a lot of extra time and was sick while leading the worship service. God used her in a great way.
3. I've been doing a lot of planning for next year. Do you realize that in 9 months we plan to be at 300 people That's crazy faith! We have to begin acting on that faith and start planning and be ready for an extra 170 people in attendance. our church is really going to change this year. I believe we all will be challenged.
4. Lastly, please pray for the church. Our faith is not in us, but in Jesus. he will provide. He works when we pray. So pray. We are completely dependent on him!
Kirk
1. Sunday was awesome. We had the five baptisms and that was a great way to cap the day! The worship itself was awesome too. the prayer station sat the end were well done and it was a great way to cap off the series on prayer. Cool!
2. I am very thankful for Christy. She put in a lot of extra time and was sick while leading the worship service. God used her in a great way.
3. I've been doing a lot of planning for next year. Do you realize that in 9 months we plan to be at 300 people That's crazy faith! We have to begin acting on that faith and start planning and be ready for an extra 170 people in attendance. our church is really going to change this year. I believe we all will be challenged.
4. Lastly, please pray for the church. Our faith is not in us, but in Jesus. he will provide. He works when we pray. So pray. We are completely dependent on him!
Kirk
Friday, December 5, 2008
Friday Morning Catch-Up 12/5/08
Sorry I haven't written in the past couple weeks; Thanksgiving and the Holidays, et al..
Here are some thoughts i've been having about Celebration the past couple weeks...
> It seems we've lost a little, stress "little", momentum in the past month concerning attendance. It seems sickness and travel hit our numbers. I'm looking forward to everyone coming back during December and feeling better!
> Seeing Amber leave for Kuwait is tough. I know we'll all be praying for her and Romy. Their three little one's are precious. It is also neat to see how Romy's Life Group is pitching in to help out in incredoble ways.
> I was excited about our budget, expecially in these tough times. our budget for this year was 136,000 and we will bring in about 150,000. That is exciting. For our ministry to increase so will the giving. It will be neat to see how God will provide.
> I've been working ont he state of the church address that I'll give in January. As I worked on it that we plan to double our minisry in 2009. We plan to go from 120 in attendance to 300 by September. We need to be prepared for God's blessing! Little things like chairs, how we do communion, offering, and the like. How will we do that with 300 people? What about space for our children? The Jones home is maxed for youth group. Where could they go if that doubles? These are solutions we need to find now so that we can accomplish our goals.
We have a lot of work cut out for us in 2009!
We've come a long way in 2008. i look for us to go further in 2009!
As God Blesses....
Here are some thoughts i've been having about Celebration the past couple weeks...
> It seems we've lost a little, stress "little", momentum in the past month concerning attendance. It seems sickness and travel hit our numbers. I'm looking forward to everyone coming back during December and feeling better!
> Seeing Amber leave for Kuwait is tough. I know we'll all be praying for her and Romy. Their three little one's are precious. It is also neat to see how Romy's Life Group is pitching in to help out in incredoble ways.
> I was excited about our budget, expecially in these tough times. our budget for this year was 136,000 and we will bring in about 150,000. That is exciting. For our ministry to increase so will the giving. It will be neat to see how God will provide.
> I've been working ont he state of the church address that I'll give in January. As I worked on it that we plan to double our minisry in 2009. We plan to go from 120 in attendance to 300 by September. We need to be prepared for God's blessing! Little things like chairs, how we do communion, offering, and the like. How will we do that with 300 people? What about space for our children? The Jones home is maxed for youth group. Where could they go if that doubles? These are solutions we need to find now so that we can accomplish our goals.
We have a lot of work cut out for us in 2009!
We've come a long way in 2008. i look for us to go further in 2009!
As God Blesses....
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